Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice on how to support my brother. Over the past three months, he went through a manic episode and is now in a pretty heavy depressive period. He’s doing better now that he isn’t manic anymore, but he’s having a hard time getting back into a normal rhythm because of depression, especially with finding a job and building a routine again.
Right now, he goes to a therapist off and on and to my knowledge he’s on some sort of medication, but I think he avoids going back to the doctor to continue finding what works for him. He has some good days, but motivation and confidence seem to be big struggles.
I want to help without being overbearing or making things worse. I’m not sure where the line is between supporting him and pushing too much.
A few things I’m hoping to understand better:
- How can I encourage him to move forward, like job searching, without overwhelming him?
- Are there small steps or routines that helped you or someone you know after something similar?
What are things people did that actually helped, and what didn’t?
- How can I best support him emotionally on low days?
- If money wasn’t an issue, are there things I can do to help him with this transition (thinking of paying for him to go to a personal trainer with me).
I really care about him and want to be helpful in a way that actually makes a difference.
Thank you for any advice or experiences you can share.